Ireland Reads: a national day to celebrate reading
Drop into your local library on Friday, 25 February
22 February 2022
This coming Friday, 25 February has been designated as a national day to celebrate reading and to encourage everyone, young and old, to pledge to take some time to relax and experience the pleasure, joy and enlightenment you can get from reading.
The aim is to celebrate reading and all the benefits it can have for wellbeing and enjoyment. Many have found that books are a great source of inspiration and means of escape, especially during the pandemic. Readers can travel to exciting places and have some wonderful adventures, all while sitting at home in the comfort of an armchair.
Libraries all over Ireland have teamed up with publishers, booksellers, authors, book clubs and others for the campaign which is part of the government Healthy Ireland programme. A number of well-known campaign ambassadors are on board to help promote the campaign, including Marian Keyes, Joe Duffy, Colm Tóibín, Rick O’Shea, Liz Nugent and more. Find out what reading means to them and why they support the campaign at www.irelandreads.ie.
Libraries throughout Longford are taking part in Ireland Reads, on Friday, 25 February 2022. Drop into your local library in Longford, Ballymahon, Lanesboro, Granard, Edgeworthstown or Drumlish and the library staff will be delighted to talk to you about reading or give you some help in choosing a book. Throughout the day there will be storytelling, quizzes and displays of top authors for children in branches.
A poetry reading for adults with highly acclaimed and well-known Edgeworthstown poet Dr Philip Brady will take place in the new Edgeworthstown Community Library at 3pm.
At 5.30pm, Longford Library will host the launch of Longford Memories: a book of interviews and photographs with thirty older Longford people which was compiled by photojournalist Brian Farrell last year. The book will be launched by Longford County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Peggy Nolan.
Cllr Nolan said, “I am really looking forward to meeting all of those inspiring people who were interviewed and photographed for the book on Ireland Reads Day. This book is a great read and I know it has already been read and enjoyed by Longford people all over the world.”
Chief Executive of Longford County Council Paddy Mahon said, “Ireland Reads day is a wonderful opportunity for people to visit their local libraries and experience the service first hand, hopefully picking up a new reading habit along the way.”
Coordinator of Ireland Reads in Longford Fiona Cooney said, “We would like to encourage as many people in Longford as possible to sign up and take the pledge to read, by logging on to www.irelandreads.ie. You can set yourself a challenge by deciding how much time you want to read, enter your favourite type of book and get some good book recommendations. There are more than 1,500 recommendations from librarians all around the country for all interests and reading levels”.
Why not drop into your local library to find out about all that’s happening for Ireland Reads on Friday, 25 February or log onto www.irelandreads.ie to take the pledge to squeeze in a read.
ENDS
All media queries should be directed to the Longford County Council Communications Officer via mediaenquiries@longfordcoco.ie or by calling 043 33 43362.
